U.S. patent application number 11/203566 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-15 for facilitating mote network configuration and layout using mechanical disturbances.
Invention is credited to Alexander J. Cohen, Edward K.Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. JR. Rinaldo.
Application Number | 20070035409 11/203566 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37742041 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070035409 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cohen; Alexander J. ; et
al. |
February 15, 2007 |
Facilitating mote network configuration and layout using mechanical
disturbances
Abstract
A method may include and/or involve at least one mote of a mote
network detecting a mechanical disturbance, and the at least one
mote applying information about when the mechanical disturbance was
detected in order to facilitate determination of a location of the
at least one mote with respect to at least one other mote.
Inventors: |
Cohen; Alexander J.; (Mill
Valley, CA) ; Rinaldo; John D. JR.; (Bellevue,
WA) ; Jung; Edward K.Y.; (Bellevue, WA) ;
Malamud; Mark A.; (Seattle, WA) ; Lord; Robert
W.; (Seattle, WA) ; Levien; Royce A.;
(Lexington, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FSP LLC
P.O. BOX 890
VANCOUVER
WA
98666
US
|
Family ID: |
37742041 |
Appl. No.: |
11/203566 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/4.36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/12 20130101;
G05B 15/02 20130101; H04L 41/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/825 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/42 20060101
G06F013/42 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: at least one mote of a mote network
detecting a mechanical disturbance; and the at least one mote
applying information about when the mechanical disturbance was
detected in order to facilitate determination of a location of the
at least one mote with respect to at least one other mote.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the at least one mote
responding to different mechanical disturbance characteristics than
the at least one other mote.
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the at least one mote
responding to the mechanical disturbance with information about one
or more of an intensity of the disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or
pitch of the disturbance, mote identification, mote status, or
location of the mote or motes that detected the disturbance.
8. (canceled)
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one mote responding
to the mechanical disturbance with information about one or more of
an intensity of the disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or pitch of
the disturbance, mote identification, mote status, or location of
the mote or motes that detected the disturbance further comprises:
the at least one mote communicating to one or more neighboring
motes the one or more of an intensity of the disturbance,
frequency, tone, and/or pitch of the disturbance, mote
identification, mote status, or location of the mote or motes that
detected the disturbance.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one mote of a mote
network detecting a mechanical disturbance further comprises: the
at least one mote applying a sensor element tuned to one or more
particular mechanical wave frequencies.
11. (canceled)
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one mote of a mote
network detecting a mechanical disturbance further comprises: the
at least one mote detecting one or more of a strength, frequency,
duration, or repetition of the mechanical disturbance.
13. (canceled)
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one mote applying
information about when the mechanical disturbance was detected in
order to facilitate determination of a location of the at least one
mote with respect to at least one other mote further comprises: the
at least one mote sharing information about when the mechanical
disturbance was detected in order to facilitate a determination of
a distance between the at least one mote and the at least one other
mote.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one mote applying
information about when the mechanical disturbance was detected in
order to facilitate determination of a location of the at least one
mote with respect to at least one other mote further comprises: the
at least one mote applying information about when the mechanical
disturbance was detected in order to facilitate determination of
which one or more motes are nearest neighbors.
16. (canceled)
17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the at least one
mote receiving an indication to be alert for the mechanical
disturbance prior to detecting the mechanical disturbance.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one mote receiving
an indication to be alert for the mechanical disturbance prior to
detecting the mechanical disturbance further comprises: the at
least one mote receiving an indication of when the mechanical
disturbance will be generated.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one mote receiving
an indication of when the mechanical disturbance will be generated
further comprises: the at least one mote receiving an indication of
an absolute time when the mechanical disturbance will be
generated.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein the indication of when the
mechanical disturbance will be generated further comprises: an
indication of a relative time when the mechanical disturbance will
be generated.
25. (canceled)
26. (canceled)
27. (canceled)
28. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the at least one
mote prior to receiving a mechanical disturbance receiving an
indication of a time at which the at least one mote should
synchronize a clock with at least one other mote.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising: the at least one
mote and at least one other mote synchronizing one or more clocks
at the time indicated by the indication.
30. A method comprising: at least one mote of a mote network
detecting a mechanical disturbance; and the at least one mote
communicating to a central processing facility information about
when the mechanical disturbance was detected in order to facilitate
a determination by the central processing facility of a location of
the at least one mote.
31. (canceled)
32. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one mote of a mote
network detecting a mechanical disturbance further comprises: at
least one mote applying signal processing logic to facilitate
detection of the mechanical disturbance.
33. (canceled)
34. The method of claim 30, further comprising: applying
information about one or more properties of one or more media
through which the mechanical disturbance propagates to facilitate
the determination of the location of the motes.
35. A method comprising: at least one mote of a mote network
detecting a mechanical disturbance; and the at least one mote
communicating to a central processing facility information about
when the mechanical disturbance was detected in order to facilitate
a determination by the central processing facility of a shape of an
object or objects comprising the at least one mote.
36. (canceled)
37. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one mote of a mote
network detecting a mechanical disturbance further comprises: at
least one mote applying signal processing logic to facilitate
detection of the mechanical disturbance.
38. (canceled)
39. A method comprising: at least one mote detecting a first
mechanical disturbance; the at least one mote recording an
indication of when the first mechanical disturbance was detected;
the at least one mote detecting a second mechanical disturbance;
the at least one mote recording an indication of when the second
mechanical disturbance was detected; and the at least one mote
applying information about when the first and second mechanical
disturbances were detected in order to facilitate determination of
a location of the at least one mote with respect to at least one
other mote.
40. A system utilizing at least one mote, the mote comprising:
logic to detect a mechanical disturbance; and logic to apply
information about when the mechanical disturbance was detected
toward determination of a location of the at least one mote with
respect to at least one other mote.
41. The mote of claim 40, wherein the logic to apply information
about when the mechanical disturbance was detected toward
determination of a location of the at least one mote with respect
to at least one other mote further comprises: applying one or more
differences between when the mechanical disturbance was detected by
the mote and when the mechanical disturbance was detected by at
least one other mote.
42. (canceled)
43. (canceled)
44. (canceled)
45. (canceled)
46. (canceled)
47. (canceled)
48. (canceled)
49. The mote of claim 40, wherein the logic to detect a mechanical
disturbance further comprises: logic to detect one or more of a
strength, frequency, duration, or repetition of the mechanical
disturbance.
50. The mote of claim 49, wherein the logic to detect one or more
of a strength, frequency, duration, or repetition of the mechanical
disturbance further comprises: logic to detect one or more patterns
of repetition of the mechanical disturbance.
51. (canceled)
52. The mote of claim 40, wherein the logic to apply information
about when the mechanical disturbance was detected toward
determination of a location of the at least one mote with respect
to at least one other mote further comprises: logic to apply
information about when the mechanical disturbance was detected in
order to facilitate determination of which motes are nearest
neighbors of the mote.
53. (canceled)
54. The mote of claim 40, further comprising: logic to apply a
received indication to be alert for the mechanical disturbance
prior to detecting the mechanical disturbance.
55. (canceled)
56. (canceled)
57. (canceled)
58. (canceled)
59. The mote of claim 54, wherein the logic to apply a received
indication to be alert for the mechanical disturbance prior to
detecting the mechanical disturbance further comprises: logic to
receive and apply an indication of when the mechanical disturbance
will be generated.
60. (canceled)
61. The mote of claim 59, wherein the logic to receive and apply an
indication of when the mechanical disturbance will be generated
further comprises: logic to receive and apply an indication of a
relative time when the mechanical disturbance will be
generated.
62. The mote of claim 61, wherein the logic to receive and apply an
indication of a relative time when the mechanical disturbance will
be generated further comprises: logic to record a time that the
mechanical disturbance was received relative to the time when the
mechanical disturbance will be generated.
63. The mote of claim 40, further comprising: logic to synchronize
a clock with at least one other mote.
64. The mote of claim 40, further comprising: logic to record an
absolute time at which the mechanical disturbance is received.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to mote networks.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Mote sensors may be distributed in manners that cause the
layout of the sensors to be less than fully understood. It may thus
be desirable to incorporate facilities to enable determination of
mote sensor layout subsequent to distribution.
SUMMARY
[0003] The following summary is intended to highlight and introduce
some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, but not to limit the
scope of the claims. Thereafter, a detailed description of
illustrated embodiments is presented, which will permit one skilled
in the relevant art to make and use various embodiments.
[0004] A method may include and/or involve at least one mote of a
mote network detecting a mechanical disturbance, and the at least
one mote applying information about when the mechanical disturbance
was detected in order to facilitate determination of a location of
the at least one mote with respect to at least one other mote. The
at least one mote of a mote network detecting a mechanical
disturbance may include and/or involve the at least one mote
applying a sensor element tuned to one or more particular
mechanical wave frequencies, and/or the at least one mote applying
signal processing logic to facilitate detection of the mechanical
disturbance, and/or the at least one mote detecting one or more of
a strength, frequency, duration, or repetition of the mechanical
disturbance, and/or the at least one mote sharing information about
when the mechanical disturbance was detected in order to facilitate
a determination of a distance between the at least one mote and the
at least one other mote, and/or the at least one mote applying
information about when the mechanical disturbance was detected in
order to facilitate determination of which one or more motes are
nearest neighbors. The at least one mote detecting one or more of a
strength, frequency, duration, or repetition of the mechanical
disturbance may include and/or involve the at least one mote
detecting one or more patterns of repetition of the mechanical
disturbance. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are
described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the
present application.
[0005] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
providing a response signal to the mechanical disturbance. The at
least one mote providing a response signal to the mechanical
disturbance may include and/or involve the at least one mote
providing a mechanical and/or visual response signal. In addition
to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
[0006] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
responding to different mechanical disturbance characteristics than
the at least one other mote. The at least one mote responding to
different mechanical disturbance characteristics than the at least
one other mote may include and/or involve the at least one mote
responding to at least one of a different frequency, volume, tone,
pitch, or pattern of mechanical disturbance than the at least one
other mote. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are
described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the
present application.
[0007] The method may include and/or involve varying one or more
mechanical disturbances according to one or more signals received
from the at least one mote or the at least one other mote. In
addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in
the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present
application.
[0008] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
responding to the mechanical disturbance with information about one
or more of an intensity of the disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or
pitch of the disturbance, mote identification, mote status, or
location of the mote or motes that detected the disturbance. The at
least one mote responding to the mechanical disturbance with
information about one or more of an intensity of the disturbance,
frequency, tone, and/or pitch of the disturbance, mote
identification, mote status, or location of the mote or motes that
detected the disturbance may include and/or involve the at least
one mote storing the one or more of an intensity of the
disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or pitch of the disturbance, mote
identification, mote status, or location of the mote or motes that
detected the disturbance, and/or the at least one mote
communicating to one or more neighboring motes the one or more of
an intensity of the disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or pitch of
the disturbance, mote identification, mote status, or location of
the mote or motes that detected the disturbance. In addition to the
foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
[0009] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
applying a filter to enhance detection of one or more mechanical
waves of one or more particular frequencies, and/or to attenuate
the one or more mechanical waves of one or more particular
frequencies. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are
described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the
present application.
[0010] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
receiving an indication to be alert for the mechanical disturbance
prior to detecting the mechanical disturbance. The at least one
mote receiving an indication to be alert for the mechanical
disturbance prior to detecting the mechanical disturbance may
include and/or involve the indication to be alert communicated to
the at least one mote via one or more electromagnetic waves, and/or
the at least one mote receiving an indication of when the
mechanical disturbance will be generated. The indication to be
alert communicated to the at least one mote via one or more
electromagnetic waves may include and/or involve the indication to
be alert communicated to the at least one mote via at least one
neighboring mote of the at least one mote, and/or the indication to
be alert communicated to the at least one mote via at least one of
Bluetooth, RFID, Wi-Fi, or other type of radio wave, and/or the
indication to be alert communicated to the at least one mote via at
least one of visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or other type of
light. The at least one mote receiving an indication of when the
mechanical disturbance will be generated may include and/or involve
the at least one mote receiving an indication of an absolute time
when the mechanical disturbance will be generated, and/or an
indication of a relative time when the mechanical disturbance will
be generated. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects
are described in the claims, drawings and text forming a part of
the present application.
[0011] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
noting a time that the mechanical disturbance was received relative
to time when the timing was started. In addition to the foregoing,
other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and
text forming a part of the present application.
[0012] The method may include and/or involve two or more motes
maintaining one or more synchronized clocks. In addition to the
foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
[0013] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
recording an absolute time at which the mechanical disturbance is
received by the at least one mote. In addition to the foregoing,
other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and
text forming a part of the present application.
[0014] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
prior to receiving a mechanical disturbance receiving an indication
of a time at which the at least one mote should synchronize a clock
with at least one other mote. In addition to the foregoing, other
method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text
forming a part of the present application.
[0015] The method may include and/or involve the at least one mote
and at least one other mote synchronizing one or more clocks at the
time indicated by the indication. In addition to the foregoing,
other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and
text forming a part of the present application.
[0016] The method may include and/or involve at least one mote of a
mote network detecting a mechanical disturbance, and the at least
one mote communicating to a central processing facility information
about when the mechanical disturbance was detected in order to
facilitate a determination by the central processing facility of a
location of the at least one mote. The at least one mote of a mote
network detecting a mechanical disturbance may include and/or
involve at least one mote applying a sensor element tuned to one or
more particular mechanical wave frequencies, and/or at least one
mote applying signal processing logic to facilitate detection of
the mechanical disturbance, and/or at least one mote detecting one
or more of a strength, frequency, duration, or repetition of the
mechanical disturbance. In addition to the foregoing, other method
aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a
part of the present application.
[0017] The method may include and/or involve applying information
about one or more properties of one or more media through which the
mechanical disturbance propagates to facilitate the determination
of the location of the motes. In addition to the foregoing, other
method aspects are described in the claims, drawings and text
forming a part of the present application.
[0018] The method may include and/or involve at least one mote of a
mote network detecting a mechanical disturbance, and the at least
one mote communicating to a central processing facility information
about when the mechanical disturbance was detected in order to
facilitate a determination by the central processing facility of a
shape of an object or objects including the at least one mote. The
at least one mote of a mote network detecting a mechanical
disturbance may include and/or involve at least one mote applying a
sensor element tuned to one or more particular mechanical wave
frequencies, and/or at least one mote applying signal processing
logic to facilitate detection of the mechanical disturbance, and/or
at least one mote detecting one or more of a strength, frequency,
duration, or repetition of the mechanical disturbance. In addition
to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
[0019] The method may include and/or involve at least one mote
detecting a first mechanical disturbance, the at least one mote
recording an indication of when the first mechanical disturbance
was detected, the at least one mote detecting a second mechanical
disturbance, the at least one mote recording an indication of when
the second mechanical disturbance was detected, and the at least
one mote applying information about when the first and second
mechanical disturbances were detected in order to facilitate
determination of a location of the at least one mote with respect
to at least one other mote. In addition to the foregoing, other
method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text
forming a part of the present application.
[0020] A system utilizing at least one mote, wherein the mote may
include and/or involve logic to detect a mechanical disturbance,
and logic to apply information about when the mechanical
disturbance was detected toward determination of a location of the
at least one mote with respect to at least one other mote. The
logic to apply information about when the mechanical disturbance
was detected toward determination of a location of the at least one
mote with respect to at least one other mote may include and/or
involve applying one or more differences between when the
mechanical disturbance was detected by the mote and when the
mechanical disturbance was detected by at least one other mote,
and/or logic to detect one or more of a strength, frequency,
duration, or repetition of the mechanical disturbance, and/or logic
to share with at least one other mote information about when the
mechanical disturbance was detected in order to facilitate a
determination of a location of the mote relative to the at least
one other mote, and/or logic to apply information about when the
mechanical disturbance was detected in order to facilitate
determination of which one or more motes are nearest neighbors of
the mote. The logic to detect one or more of a strength, frequency,
duration, or repetition of the mechanical disturbance may include
and/or involve logic to detect one or more patterns of repetition
of the mechanical disturbance. In addition to the foregoing, other
system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text
forming a part of the present application.
[0021] The mote may include and/or involve logic to provide a
response signal to the mechanical disturbance. The logic to provide
a response signal to the mechanical disturbance may include and/or
involve logic to provide a mechanical and/or visual response
signal. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are
described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the
present application.
[0022] The mote may include and/or involve logic to respond to the
mechanical disturbance with information about one or more of an
intensity of the disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or pitch of the
disturbance, mote identification, mote status, or location of the
mote or motes that detected the disturbance. The logic to respond
to the mechanical disturbance with information about one or more of
an intensity of the disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or pitch of
the disturbance, mote identification, mote status, or location of
the mote or motes that detected the disturbance may include and/or
involve logic to store the one or more of an intensity of the
disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or pitch of the disturbance, mote
identification, mote status, or location of the mote or motes that
detected the disturbance, and/or logic to communicate to one or
more neighboring motes the one or more of an intensity of the
disturbance, frequency, tone, and/or pitch of the disturbance, mote
identification, mote status, or location of the mote or motes that
detected the disturbance. In addition to the foregoing, other
system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text
forming a part of the present application.
[0023] The mote may include and/or involve a sensor element tuned
to one or more particular mechanical wave frequencies. In addition
to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
[0024] The mote may include and/or involve signal processing logic
to facilitate detection of the mechanical disturbance. In addition
to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
[0025] The mote may include and/or involve filter logic to enhance
detection of one or more mechanical waves of one or more particular
frequencies, and/or to attenuate one or more mechanical waves of
one or more particular frequencies. In addition to the foregoing,
other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and
text forming a part of the present application.
[0026] The mote may include and/or involve logic to apply a
received indication to be alert for the mechanical disturbance
prior to detecting the mechanical disturbance. The logic to apply a
received indication to be alert for the mechanical disturbance
prior to detecting the mechanical disturbance may include and/or
involve logic to receive the indication to be alert for the
mechanical disturbance via one or more electromagnetic waves,
and/or logic to receive and apply an indication of when the
mechanical disturbance will be generated. The logic to receive the
indication to be alert for the mechanical disturbance via the one
or more electromagnetic waves may include and/or involve logic to
receive the alert from at least one neighboring mote of the mote,
and/or logic to receive the indication to be alert via at least one
of Bluetooth, RFID, Wi-Fi, or other type of radio wave, and/or
logic to receive the indication to be alert via at least one of
visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or other type of light. The logic
to receive and apply an indication of when the mechanical
disturbance will be generated may include and/or involve logic to
receive and apply an indication of an absolute time when the
mechanical disturbance will be generated, and/or logic to receive
and apply an indication of a relative time when the mechanical
disturbance will be generated. The logic to receive and apply an
indication of when the mechanical disturbance will be generated may
include and/or involve logic to record a time that the mechanical
disturbance was received relative to the time when the mechanical
disturbance will be generated. In addition to the foregoing, other
system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text
forming a part of the present application.
[0027] The mote may include and/or involve logic to synchronize one
or more clocks with at least one other mote. In addition to the
foregoing, other system aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
[0028] The mote may include and/or involve logic to record an
absolute time at which the mechanical disturbance is received. In
addition to the foregoing, other apparatus aspects are described in
the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present
application.
[0029] Other system/method/apparatus aspects are described in the
text (e.g., detailed description and claims) and drawings forming
the present application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] In the drawings, the same reference numbers and acronyms
identify elements or acts with the same or similar functionality
for ease of understanding and convenience. To easily identify the
discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant
digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in
which that element is first introduced.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for
acoustic stimulation of a mote network.
[0032] FIG. 2 is an action flow diagram of an embodiment of
acoustic stimulation of a mote network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] References to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" do not
necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
[0034] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout
the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising,"
and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed
to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense
of "including, but not limited to." Words using the singular or
plural number also include the plural or singular number
respectively. Additionally, the words "herein," "above," "below"
and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer
to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions
of this application. When the claims use the word "or" in reference
to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the
following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the
list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items
in the list.
[0035] "Logic" refers to signals and/or information that may be
applied to influence the operation of a device. Software, hardware,
and firmware are examples of logic. Hardware logic may be embodied
in circuits. In general, logic may comprise combinations of
software, hardware, and/or firmware. [0036] System for Acoustic
Stimulation of a Mote Network
[0037] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system for
acoustic stimulation of a mote network.
[0038] A mote network within a volume/area 117 includes multiple
mote sensor/processors. For purposes of illustration, three motes
102, 103, and 104 are shown, although in practice the network could
have more or fewer (typically more) motes than this. Mote 103 is
shown in more detail, having a communication interface 106, a
mechanical disturbance sensor 107, clock logic 108, and other logic
109 to carry out/participate in various acts as described
herein.
[0039] The system further includes at least one external processing
facility 111 having its own logic 113 to carry out/participate in
acts described herein, and at least one mechanical disturbance
generator 115.
[0040] At least one mote of the mote network may detect a
mechanical disturbance (henceforth, `disturbance detection`)
produced by the disturbance generator 115, and apply information
about when the mechanical disturbance was detected to facilitate
determination of a location of the at least one mote with respect
to at least one other mote.
[0041] Disturbance detection may involve a mote applying a sensor
element such as 107 tuned to one or more particular mechanical wave
frequencies. One way to accomplish this is to create a sensor using
an object having a natural resonance frequency, for example a
rectangular or circular membrane or an object with one attached and
one free end such as a tuning fork. Such a sensor may strongly
respond to (and thus detect) a mechanical wave at the resonance
frequency (and possibly harmonics thereof) but only faintly if at
all respond to (and thus not detect) waves at other
frequencies.
[0042] A mote or motes may include and apply signal processing
logic to facilitate detection of the mechanical disturbance. Such
processing may include filtering out probable noise and signals of
certain frequencies, normalizing signal strength, and/or providing
analog to digital conversion. One or more digital filters may be
applied to enhance detection of one or more mechanical waves of one
or more particular frequencies, and/or to attenuate one or more
mechanical waves of one or more particular frequencies. For
example, the mechanical sensor 107 on mote 103 may incorporate a
microphone responsive to a wide range of mechanical waves (sound
input, in this case). Sound input received by the microphone may be
repeated sampled and stored within the mote 103 as raw digital
values. Logic 109 may analyze the raw digital values and eliminate
values obtained from sound above a high cutoff frequency or below a
low cutoff frequency, thus performing digital bandpass filtering of
the received inputs. The final result of the processing by the
microphone and the filtering logic may be used by the rest of the
mote components as if a tuned, resonance sensor was present.
[0043] Disturbance detection may also involve a mote detecting one
or more of a strength, frequency, duration, or repetition of the
mechanical disturbance (henceforth, `disturbance attribute
determination`). Disturbance attribute determination may in some
cases involve detecting one or more patterns of repetition of the
mechanical disturbance. Recognition of one or some of these
characteristics may facilitate the mote recognizing that the
disturbance is not noise. For example, a disturbance which is
recognized as a sound of certain duration (say approximately one
second) repeated (say three times every five seconds) would be
unlikely to be noise. Besides noise detection, the extra
information conveyed by disturbance attribute determination may
also be used in other ways by a mote. For example, the mote may be
able to identify which of several possible actions it is being
indicated to take in response to the disturbance.
[0044] Two or more motes may share information about when the
mechanical disturbance was detected in order to facilitate a
determination of a distance between the motes (henceforth,
`location determination`. Location determination may in some
instances involve motes applying information about when the
mechanical disturbance was detected in order to facilitate
determination of which motes are nearest neighbors. For example,
mote 103 might calculate the difference in time between its
reception of the disturbance and mote 102's. Mote 103 might also
perform this calculation with respect to mote 104. Mote 103 might
then recognize the mote which received the disturbance at the
closest time to it 103 as being its nearest neighbor. The mote
receiving the disturbance at the time most different from it 103
might be determined to be its furthest neighbor.
[0045] Motes may provide, for example via a communications
interface 106, a response signal to the mechanical disturbance
(henceforth, `disturbance response`). Disturbance response may
include and/or involve at least one mote providing a mechanical
and/or visual response signal. For example, the mechanical sensor
107 may incorporate an element capable of vibrating at a certain
frequency, which it may do as a part of the disturbance response.
As another example, a mote (not shown) may include an LED which it
may light up for a certain length of time, providing a visual
disturbance response of particular wavelength(s).
[0046] Motes of the network may respond to different mechanical
disturbance characteristics (henceforth, `disturbance response
distinction`). Disturbance response distinction may include and/or
involve motes responding to different frequencies, volumes, tones,
pitches, or patterns of mechanical disturbance. Disturbance
response distinction may occur when a network has several types of
motes, and each responds to a particular disturbance pattern. For
example, motes with pressure sensors may respond with a visual
response to disturbances of frequency A. Motes with temperature
sensors may respond with a visual response to disturbances of
frequency B.
[0047] Disturbance response distinction may also or alternatively
occur when a network has at least one mote able to distinguish
between disturbance types. For example, a mote may respond to a
disturbance of frequency A of particular duration and number of
repetitions by broadcasting its name (an identifier) and when it
first received the disturbance. At approximately the same time, it
may receive similar information from some of the other motes in the
network. When the mote receives a disturbance of frequency A with
different duration and repetitions, it may respond by broadcasting
its calculated neighbor information. In response to either
disturbance type, the mote may also selectively pass on to other
motes the information it is receiving, thus propagating the
information for ultimate receipt by one or more processing
facilities, such as the external processing facility 111.
[0048] Disturbance response may involve the communication of
information, for example via a communications interface 106. For
example, a mote may respond to the mechanical disturbance with
information about one or more of an intensity of the disturbance,
frequency, tone, and/or pitch of the disturbance, mote
identification, mote status, or location of the mote or motes that
detected the disturbance. One manner of implementing disturbance
response may include and/or involve a mote storing this information
(for example via logic 109 which may include memory facilities),
and/or communicating this information to one or more neighboring
motes. In other embodiments, information may be communicated to one
or more processing facilities external to the mote network.
[0049] In some cases, mechanical disturbances applied by generator
115 to the network may be varied according to signals received from
the motes. For example, the generator 115 may initially generate a
disturbance of certain strength, say a sound of certain frequency
at 12 db (a person would hear this as a very soft sound or not at
all). The external processing facility 111 may expect to receive a
response from one or more motes, including mote 104, communicating
the nearest neighbor network topology the motes 102-104 calculated
as a result of the disturbance. However, after a certain time
interval the logic 113 of the processing facility 111 may recognize
that no such communication was received. The logic 113 may
recognize that one reason this undesired result could occur is that
some or all of the motes 102-104 did not receive or recognize the
disturbance. The processing facility 111 may then "try again" by
commanding the generator 115 to generate a second disturbance of
the same frequency but with 30 db of strength. In a second example,
motes in a network may be expected to light up an LED (e.g. provide
a light response) after receipt of a disturbance. If less than half
the expected number of lights occur after the disturbance, the
disturbance generator may be signaled to send a second disturbance
which varies in some manner, for example is of longer duration and
is repeated more times. [0050] Pre-Notification and/or
Synchronization
[0051] The system may provide one or more motes of the network with
one or more indications to be alert for the mechanical disturbance
(henceforth, `pre-notification`). In some embodiments the external
processing facility 111 may provide the pre-notification, and may
collect disturbance responses. Pre-notification may involve an
alert(s) communicated to one or more motes via one or more
electromagnetic waves, and may in some cases include an indication
of when the mechanical disturbance will be generated.
Pre-notification communication may be communicated to one or more
motes, which in turn communicate the pre-notification to
neighboring motes (e.g. via interface 106). Pre-notification alerts
may be communicated, for example, via Bluetooth, RFID, Wi-Fi, or
other type of radio wave. In some implementations pre-notification
may involve communication via visible, infrared, ultraviolet, or
other types of light.
[0052] Pre-notification may in some cases involve communicating to
one or more motes indication(s) of an absolute time when the
mechanical disturbance will be generated. Pre-notification may also
involve an indication of a relative time when the mechanical
disturbance will be generated (e.g. a number of second or fractions
of seconds relative to a current time). Motes may note the time
(either absolute or relative, e.g. using logic 109) that the
mechanical disturbance was received relative to the time indicated
for when the mechanical disturbance was generated. For example, a
pre-notification communication may say that the disturbance will be
generated in 2 seconds. If 2.01 seconds later, the mote detects the
disturbance; 0.01 seconds may be recognized as the elapsed time for
that mote.
[0053] In some implementations two or more motes of the network may
maintain synchronized clocks. A mote may record an absolute time at
which a mechanical disturbance is received (detected), and may
compare this detected time with time(s) the disturbance is detected
by neighboring motes. In this fashion information may be gained
about the distances and/or directions between mote neighbors.
[0054] In some situations motes may not continuously maintain
synchronized clocks. Instead, prior to the mechanical disturbance,
the system may provide pre-notification of a time at which motes
should synchronize their clocks. . For example, a pre-notification
communication received by mote 103 may indicate that it is now
16:00:00 GMT, and a mechanical disturbance will be generated at
16:02:00. Motes receiving the pre-notification may synchronize
their clocks (such as clock 108) at 16:00:00. Elapsed time
information can be calculated using the clocked time of recognition
of the disturbance. Alternatively, the pre-notification may
indicate that the motes interact to set a time they agree upon
between them. [0055] Layout/Distribution Determination
[0056] Motes may detect a mechanical disturbance, and may
communicate to one or more central processing facilities (such as
111) information about when the mechanical disturbance was detected
in order to facilitate a determination of locations of the motes.
Each mote 102-104, upon receipt of the mechanical disturbance, may
communicate its identity and when it received the disturbance to
near neighbors who pass it on. Ultimately, the information is
passed for all motes 102-104 in the network to an external
processing facility 111. The logic 113 of the processing facility
113 may develop a composite picture/values of how far the motes
102-104 were from the generating sound. Placement of this
calculation within the processing facility 111 may be desirable in
applications where the processing facility 111, but not the
individual motes 102-104, need to know the mote's location.
[0057] Information about when the mechanical disturbance was
detected may facilitate a determination of an exterior or interior
surface or shape of an object or objects, for example, the shape of
region 117 enclosing the motes. Many motes such as motes 102-104
might be distributed in a water medium by sending water into a
tunnel believed to open into a side chamber. The inner shape of the
tunnel and any openings might then be approximated by recognizing
that wherever the motes are, the solid surfaces of the shape are
not.
[0058] In some cases it may prove useful to apply information about
properties of one or more media through which the mechanical
disturbance propagates to facilitate the determination of the
distribution/layout of the motes. For example, in the example
provided above where the dispersing medium was water, information
about the velocity of sound in water at a certain temperature may
be used when calculating the distance of a particular mote from the
disturbance generator.
[0059] Layout/distribution determination in multiple dimensions may
involve the repeated application of mechanical disturbances,
sometimes from different locations. For example, a first mechanical
disturbance (e.g. using generator 115) may be provided from a first
location, and the motes might record an indication of when the
first mechanical disturbance was detected. A second mechanical
disturbance might then be generated from a different location (e.g.
after moving generator 115, or using a second generator not shown),
and the motes might record an indication of when the second
mechanical disturbance was detected. The motes, or one or more
external processing facilities, may then apply the information
about when the first and second mechanical disturbances were
detected in order to facilitate determination of a location of the
motes in an absolute sense, or in relation to one another.
Differences between when the mechanical disturbance was detected by
various motes may be applied toward this determination, as may be
detected strength, frequency, duration, or repetition of the
mechanical disturbance. [0060] Acoustic Stimulation of a Mote
Network
[0061] FIG. 2 is an action flow diagram of an embodiment of
acoustic stimulation of a mote network.
[0062] At 202 a sound wave produced by an acoustic generator
propagates across a mote network. A first mote (mote 1) detects the
sound wave first, and notes the time. The wave propagates onward to
a second mote (mote 2), which detects the wave and notes the time.
The wave further propagates to a third mote (mote 3), which detects
the wave and notes the time.
[0063] The motes exchange information about when the wave was
detected. Mote 2 communicates information about when it detected
the wave. At 204 this information is received by mote 1; at 206,
this information is received by mote 2. Note that mote 2 may simply
broadcast this information, but due to power constraints the
information may be received only by motes that are closer to mote 2
(e.g. neighbors).
[0064] Mote 1 communicates information about when it detected the
wave. At 208 this information is received by mote 2. Mote 3
communicates information about when it detected the wave, and at
210 this information is received by mote 2.
[0065] Mote 2 communicates information about when the wave was
detected by other motes. At 214 information about when mote 3
detected the wave is received by mote 1. At 212 information about
when mote 1 detected the wave is received by mote 3.
[0066] As re-broadcast of information continues throughout the
network, motes may gain knowledge of the distribution/layout of
neighboring motes, and even non-neighboring motes.
[0067] Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state
of the art has progressed to the point where there is little
distinction left between hardware and software implementations of
aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally
(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between
hardware and software can become significant) a design choice
representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in
the art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by which
processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein
can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and
that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the
processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed.
For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy
are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or
firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the
implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet
again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination
of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several
possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devices and/or
other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which
is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be
utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the
vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed,
flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which
may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical
aspects of implementations will typically employ optically-oriented
hardware, software, and or firmware.
[0068] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various
embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions
and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art
that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams,
flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or
collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or
virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several
portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented
via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs),
or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in
whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated
circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more
computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more
computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more
processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more
microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination
thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code
for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of
one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the
subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as
a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative
embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies
regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to
actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing
medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable
type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact
Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer
memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital
and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a
waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication
link, etc.).
[0069] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common
within the art to describe devices and/or processes in the fashion
set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering practices to
integrate such described devices and/or processes into mote
processing systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices
and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a mote
processing system via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those
having skill in the art will recognize that a typical mote
processing system generally includes one or more of a memory such
as volatile and non-volatile memory, processors such as
microprocessors and digital signal processors, computational
entities such as operating systems, user interfaces, drivers,
sensors, actuators, applications programs, one or more interaction
devices, such as USB ports, control systems including feedback
loops and control motors (e.g., feedback for sensing position
and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/or adjusting
components and/or quantities). A typical mote processing system may
be implemented utilizing any suitable available components, such as
those typically found in mote computing/communication systems,
combined with engineering practices. Specific examples of such
components entail such as Intel Corporation's and/or Crossbow
Corporation's mote components and supporting hardware, software,
and firmware.
[0070] In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize
that the various aspects described herein which can be implemented,
individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware,
software, firmware, or any combination thereof can be viewed as
being composed of various types of "electrical circuitry."
Consequently, as used herein "electrical circuitry" includes, but
is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one
discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least
one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one
application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry
forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer
program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer
program which at least partially carries out processes and/or
devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a
computer program which at least partially carries out processes
and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a
memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), and/or
electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a
modem, communications switch, or optical-electrical equipment).
[0071] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common
within the art to describe devices and/or processes in the fashion
set forth herein, and thereafter use standard engineering practices
to integrate such described devices and/or processes into larger
systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices and/or
processes described herein can be integrated into a network
processing system via a reasonable amount of experimentation.
[0072] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates
different components contained within, or connected with, different
other components. It is to be understood that such depicted
architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other
architectures can be implemented which achieve the same
functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components
to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such
that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two
components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality
can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired
functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or
intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated
can also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably
coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and
any two components capable of being so associated can also be
viewed as being "operably couplable", to each other to achieve the
desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable
include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or
physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable
and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically
interacting and/or logically interactable components.
[0073] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common
within the art to implement devices and/or processes and/or systems
in the fashion(s) set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering
and/or business practices to integrate such implemented devices
and/or processes and/or systems into more comprehensive devices
and/or processes and/or systems. That is, at least a portion of the
devices and/or processes and/or systems described herein can be
integrated into comprehensive devices and/or processes and/or
systems via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those having
skill in the art will recognize that examples of such comprehensive
devices and/or processes and/or systems might include--as
appropriate to context and application--all or part of devices
and/or processes and/or systems of (a) an air conveyance (e.g., an
airplane, rocket, hovercraft, helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground
conveyance (e.g., a car, truck, locomotive, tank, armored personnel
carrier, etc.), (c) a building (e.g., a home, warehouse, office,
etc.), (d) an appliance (e.g., a refrigerator, a washing machine, a
dryer, etc.), (e) a communications system (e.g., a networked
system, a telephone system, a Voice over IP system, etc.), (f) a
business entity (e.g., an Internet Service Provider (ISP) entity
such as Comcast Cable, Quest, Southwestern Bell, etc.); or (g) a
wired/wireless services entity such as Sprint, Cingular, Nextel,
etc.), etc.
[0074] While particular aspects of the present subject matter
described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent
to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein,
changes and modifications may be made without departing from the
subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and,
therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope
all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit
and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it
is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended
claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in
general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims
(e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as
"open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as
"including but not limited to," the term "having" should be
interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be
interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that if a specific
number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an
intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence
of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an
aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain
usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more"
to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases
should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim
recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any
particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to
inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same
claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least
one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or
"an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one
or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles
used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a
specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly
recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such
recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the
recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where
a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is
used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one
having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a
system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be
limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B
together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C
together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to
"at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a
construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art
would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least
one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that
have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together,
B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that virtually any
disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative
terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be
understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the
terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase
"A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or
"B" or "A and B."
* * * * *